The Early September Reset

September has arrived, and suddenly everything is pumpkins, sweaters, and fall candles.And honestly, I’m excited about all of it.But it’s also still summer.

The days are warm, tomatoes and peaches are still in season, and there are a few good weeks left for swimming, eating outside, and getting ice cream after dinner. At the same time, something about September makes me want to get the house back in order and start making things feel a little cozier.

Even though the start of school doesn’t change much in my house anymore, I still feel that back-to-school rhythm. September feels like a fresh start. So I’m treating these first few weeks as a little in-between season: clean up from summer, start getting the house ready for fall, and enjoy the best parts of summer while they’re still here.

Give the House an End-of-Summer Reset

Before I start decorating for fall, I want a clean slate. This doesn’t need to become a whole-house deep clean. I’m thinking more about the things that have accumulated over the summer: beach towels, sunscreen, sandy bags, an overstuffed fridge, neglected corners, and all the random things that somehow land on the kitchen counter.

A few things worth doing:

● Wash and gather beach and pool towels.

● Clean out the refrigerator and freezer.

● Wipe down the kitchen cabinets and counters.

● Dust, vacuum, and mop the main living areas.

● Wash the bedding and freshen up the bedrooms.

● Clean the front door and entryway.

● Wash the windows or sliding doors that need it most.

● Go through summer clothes and set aside anything you already know you won’t wear again.

● Clear the surfaces where fall decor will go.

You could also pick a few of those little jobs that make the whole house feel better once they’re done: wash the throw blankets, clean the glass doors, wipe down the baseboards in the main rooms, or finally deal with that one drawer or cabinet that’s gotten out of control. The goal isn’t to make the house perfect. It’s simply to make it feel fresh again.

Pull Out the Fall Decor

Once things are clean, this is a good weekend to pull out the fall bins and see what’s actually in them.Every year, it’s tempting to walk into Target and suddenly decide I need an entirely new fall personality. Then I open a storage bin and discover I apparently already had one.

Before buying anything new, I like looking through what I own, deciding what I’m excited to use again, and setting aside anything I don’t want this year. Check the candles, wash the cozy throws, and figure out if there’s actually anything missing before heading to the store.

Then start bringing in fall however you like. Put apples in a big bowl on the counter. Bring home sunflowers or dahlias. Add a cozy throw to the sofa. Light the fall candle you’ve been waiting to use. Put out a few pumpkins if that makes you happy.

Early September can be a little bit of both seasons. The house can start feeling like fall while there’s still watermelon in the refrigerator and a beach bag by the door.

Things to Do Before Summer Is Actually Over

There are still a few weeks left, and I don’t want to spend them only looking ahead to fall.There are too many good summer things left to do.

Eat the late-summer produce.


Buy the really good tomatoes and make BLTs, tomato toast, fresh salsa, or a simple tomato and basil pasta. Get corn on the cob. Cut up a watermelon and keep it cold in the fridge. Eat peaches over the sink. This is the time to use all the basil growing faster than anyone knows what to do with.

Have one more summer dinner.


Burgers on the grill, corn, potato salad, and watermelon would be perfect for Labor Day weekend. Or grilled chicken, pasta salad, fruit, and lemonade. Nothing complicated. Just the kind of dinner that tastes like summer.

Go get ice cream after dinner.


It doesn’t need to be a special occasion. Go out for cones or frozen yogurt on a warm evening and enjoy having nowhere else you need to be.

Spend another day near the water.


Beach, lake, pool, boat, whatever summer looks like where you live. It doesn’t have to take the whole day, either. A couple of hours at the beach or an evening swim still counts.

Eat outside.


Have breakfast on the patio, pack sandwiches and fruit for a little picnic, or eat dinner in the backyard. Take advantage of the warm evenings while they’re here.

Go somewhere for sunset.


Bring a drink, take a walk, find a a good place to sit, and stay until the sun is actually gone.

Take one little day trip.


Labor Day weekend is perfect for this. Pick a beach town, farmers market, outdoor movie, baseball game, pretty drive, or somewhere you’ve been meaning to explore. It doesn’t need to involve luggage or a big itinerary.

Make one more very summery thing.


Peach cobbler. Tomato sandwiches. Homemade lemonade. Strawberry shortcake. Fresh salsa. Grilled corn. Make the thing you’ve been saying you wanted to make “this summer.”

Leave room for a lazy summer afternoon.


Read a book, make something cold to drink, go for a swim, watch a movie, or simply give yourself nowhere you particularly need to be. Sit outside in a lawn chair, have a picnic, play outdoor games, or go for a bike ride. The point is to let the afternoon stay unplanned for as long as possible.

Start Looking Forward to Fall

At the same time, I’m completely ready to start thinking about what comes next.

Wash the cozy blankets. Make a list of the fall meals you want to cook when the weather cools down: chili, soup, baked pasta, roast chicken, apple crisp.

Look through your closet and see what you already have for fall before shopping for anything new. Find the jeans, sweaters, jackets, and shoes you’re excited to wear again.

Make a little fall reading list, too. Pick a few books you’d love to curl up with over the next couple of months, whether that’s a cozy mystery, a cozy fall romance, a classic you’ve always meant to read, something a little spooky for October, or just a really good novel that feels right for the season.

And put a few fall things on the calendar. An apple orchard, a football game, a fall farmers market, a movie night, a day for decorating, or a Sunday afternoon to make the first big pot of soup.

That’s what I like about early September. It’s a little bridge between seasons, when you can start making the house cozy and getting excited about everything coming this fall without giving up the last few weeks of summer.

So light the fall candle, put a pumpkin on the porch, and make plans for the season ahead. Just don’t forget there’s still time for another beach day, really good tomatoes, and ice cream after dinner.